3 Reasons Why Your Cat Wakes Up Too Early - And How To Solve It

Does your cat wake you up before your alarm goes off and insist you pay attention to her? Your cat probably doesn’t care that this kind of behavior is not endearing, and he or she will continue to do so until you fix the problem.

There is a reason why your cat is waking up so early and getting you up along with him. Here’s what to look for…



1. Your Cat Is Using Learned Behavior


Has your cat ever woken you up before, and you fed them to keep him quiet and satisfied? If that is the case, you might have inadvertently taught your cat that they can do that whenever they feel peckish. Cats are quick learners; if they think they can be fed just by waking you up at their whim, they will take advantage of that.


Be prepared to put up a fight to get your cat to start realizing that they can’t just wake you whenever they desire food. You will have to keep your door closed so they can’t come in, or you may need to feed your cat more food in the evening to prevent your cat from feeling peckish first thing in the morning. 

cat resting
Image ​​from KittySpout

2. Your Cat May Be Stressed


If your cat feels anxious, overwhelmed, scared, or otherwise unsettled, it may come to you for comfort. Your cat sees you as their protector and guardian, not just a food source, which means your cat will come to you when experiencing a problem.


Any loud noises near your house, such as automated machines turning on, thunder or a car backfiring, can startle your cat and send them running to you for help, or worse, it can cause your cat to disappear. If these problems happen frequently, you may want to look for ways to reduce sound in the cat’s room or eliminate whatever is causing the noise or stress.


cat stressed
Image ​​from KittySpout


3. Your Cat May Be Telling You She’s Hungry Or Thirsty


The most apparent reason for waking you up is that your kitty tells you they want some food or water.


The way to fix this is to feed your cat in a timely manner every day or invest in an automatic cat feeder and a cat water fountain. Your cat’s stomach operates on a schedule, and if you miss its deadlines, your cat will start complaining.

If you feed your cat earlier than usual the night before, you can set out some food before bed and ensure their water supply is full and fresh. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but just a tiny amount can be enough to sate your cat’s hunger until you are ready to wake up and feed your furry friend.


cat in bed
Image ​​from KittySpout

It’s A Solvable Problem


Ultimately, your cat waking you up too early is an issue that can be fixed once you identify what is wrong with your cat or what they need. If you think there might be a health problem that is the issue, make sure to contact your vet about it. Otherwise, try some of the tips we have shared with you here and see if you can get your cat to start leaving you alone in the morning until you wake up and are ready for some social interaction yourself.